Roll taping mechanism

ABSTRACT

Apparatus operable in single or spaced units to apply tape to rotating rolls of material, each unit comprising an angular lever pivotally mounted for powered oscillation between first and second extreme positions past an intermediate position, the lever carrying a tape pressure roller engageable with and disengageable from the tape by movement of the lever from its first to intermediate positions, an angular extent of the lever being pivoted to a knife carrier which is actuated alongside a springurged tape pressure applying follower arm to sever the tape by movement of the lever to its second position.

United States Patent [191 Eglinton 1 Aug. 26, 1975 ROLL TAPING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Robert Bruce Eglinton, South Pasadena, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Chromalloy American Corporation,

Gardena, Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr. 29, 1974 [21] Appl No: 464,761

[52] U.S. Cl 156/446; 156/522 [51] Int. Cl. 865C 3/12; 8328 31/00 158] Field of Search 156/522, 446

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,166 9/1953 Johnson i. 156/522 3,066,723 12/1962 Remington et al.

$406,084 10/1968 Varga 156/522 3540969 11/1970 Jorgenscn 11 156/522 Primary Exdminer-Douglas J. Drummond Attorney, Agent, or FirmWhite and Haefliger 5 7 ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures (i-:- l i- 1 I Hi a W 28 l l I l Q F l i l I A, A

PATENTED AUGZSIQYS sum 2 [1F 9 ROLL TAPING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention has resulted primarily from a need for industrial equipment for tape binding bulky materials in roll form of which carpet rolls are illustrative, but not limitative, of work objects movable to present tape receiving surfaces and which may be so dimensionally extended as to require binding at a series of taping stations.

Contemplated is the use of plain or identifying tapes prepared to display information by distinguishing colors, grade and quality markings, trade names, manufacturer identifications and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention has among its object to provide an improved fail-safe taping mechanism usable for such commercial purposes as indicated in the foregoing and reduced in its simplicity to a powered actuating lever operable to serve the functions of release from a rotating work surface of a tape applying roll, engagement of the roll against the tape for its application to the work surface, and actuation of a cutting mechanism for severance of the applied tape.

In structural conformance with this format the invention contemplates the provision of an actuating lever mounted for oscillation within a housing containing the taping mechanism, the lever functions being best accommodated by providing the lever with an upper power oscillated extent and below a pivotal mounting to the housing, a lower angular extent which generally overlies the course of the tape being applied to the work surface. Thus the shape configuration of the lever is in the nature of a bell crank the lower extent of which has up and down swinging movements as the upper extent is oscillated.

In more particular reference to the actuating lever and its functions, the lever is mounted for oscillation between first and second extreme positions between which the lever assumes what may be termed an intermediate position. These positions are related to the lever functions by causing the lever-carried tape pressure roller to be elevated as for initial tape threading in the intermediate lever position, subsequent movements of the lever to its first extreme position serving to press the roller against the tape and lever movement to its second extreme position causing actuation of a levercarried cutting device to sever the applied tape.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a spring-urged follower roller mounted to swing in parallelism with the lever to press against and firmly adhere the applied tape.

Where the taping mechanism is to be used in multiples as for the binding of single elongated work rolls the invention utilizes a series of such taping units having their housings interconnected in alignment and carrying individual tape supply rolls. In such installations the oscillatory unit levers may be actuated from a common energy supply source such as compressed air.

These and other features and objects of the invention are more particularly described and explained by reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an elevation showing a multiple unit taping assembly as viewed fi m the left of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing one of the taping units as viewed from line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale showing as viewed from line 33 in FIG. 1 of the taping mechanism contained within the housing and with the actuating lever in its intermediate position in which the lever-carried pressure roller is elevated from the tape;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the lever swung to its first extreme position in which the tape applying roller is lowered to working position against the tape;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the parts in tape severing position resulting from swinging of the lever to its second extreme position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section as viewed from the plan of broken line 88 in FIG. 7',

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevation as viewed from line 99 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary illustration of the cutting knife as viewed from line l0-10 in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In reference first to FIGS. 1 and 2 the work, typically an elongated carpet roll 10 is shown to be supported on elongated rollers 11 and 12 driven from a suitable power source, not shown, to rotate as indicated thus producing rotation of the carpet roll. The taping units generally indicated at 13 have their housings I4 aligned above the rotating roll 10 and suitably interconnected as by bar 15 supported on angle flange l6 and also by rods 17 having end flanges 18 bolted to depending legs of the housings 14. Each housing carries a supply roll 20 from which the tape is drawn off to the taping mechanisms and applied to the work roll as will appear.

Each taping unit includes apparatus operable to apply tape to the surface 10a of roll 10, as better illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. Such apparatus includes a lever 21 having pivot mounting at 22 to housing wall 23, enabling swinging of the lever in an upright plane and about horizontal axis 24 above roll 10. The lever is thereby pivotable between a first extreme position (as for example tape applying mode, as seen in FIG. 4) and a second extreme position (as for example applied tape cutting mode, as seen in FIG. 7). FIG. 3 shows the lever in an intermediate position or rest mode, and it is an important feature of the invention that all three operational modes are selectively achieved in a very simple and efficient manner, utilizing only bi-directional motion input to swing the lever.

Powered means to oscillate the lever upper extent 21a above pivot 22 includes first and second actuators such as may be exemplified by fluid pressure responsive actuators 25 and 26. FIG. 4 shows the plunger 27 of the first actuator advanced in response to fluid pressure exertion on piston 28 in cylinder 29 to urge the lever 21 clockwise to first extreme (tape applying) positions, whereas FIG. 7 shows the plunger 30 of the second actuator advanced in response to fluid pressure exertion on piston 31 in cylinder 32 to urge the lever 21 counterclockwise to second ext eme (tape cutting) position. In this regard, the plungers may be provided with heads 33 and 34 the tops of which are tapered at 330 and 34a to positively engage the lever, and stops 38 and 39 may be employed to be engagable by lever arm extent 21a for limiting lever swinging. Neither head 33 or 34 engages the lever 21 in FIG. 3, actuator springs 70 and 71 urging the pistons to retracted position, as shown. Also, a return spring 72 urges the lever arm 21a to neutral upright position.

In rest mode, as appears in FIG. 3, the free end portion 40a of the tape 40 extends between and hangs below a pressure roller 41 and a smaller guide roller 42, both carried by lever arm extent 21b. The latter projects downwardly and at an angle to lever arm extent 21a, whereby the lever has Bell-crank configuration. Note also that arm 21b extends in the general direction of rotation of the roll upper surface a, whereby the free end or tail" of the tape is frictionally urged to the right by the roll surface 10a to a position directly beneath pressure roller 41 as the lever swings clockwise to tape applying position as seen in FIG. 4. In that position, the tape is urged by roller 41 against the surface 10a of the clockwise rotating roll 10 the tape spooling off supply roll and feeding over idler rollers 43, 44 and 42. Pressure roller 41 may have a resiliently compressible surface as provided by a suitable elastomer peripheral band or tire" 41a appearing in FIG. 3, to aid pressural application of the tape to the work roll surface 10a for retention thereon as by means of a suitable adhesive layer on the tape side facing the roll 10. A follower roller 46 on arm 47 also presses against the applied tape, arm 47 being pivotally connected at 48 to boss 49 in wall 23 as seen in FIG. 6. A torsion spring 50 has its opposite ends 51 and 52 attached to boss 49 and arm 47 to urge the arm clockwise in FIG. 3 for pressing the roller 46 against the tape. The swing of arm 47 is parallel to that of lever 21.

Referring now to FIG. 7 the apparatus includes a knife and a carrier therefor connected to the lever 21 and operable in response to its movement to second extreme position to sever the tape. In the example, the carrier 54 supports the knife 55 for swinging movement generally to the right of and below the pressure roller 41; and for this purpose the carrier 54 may be pivotally connected at 56 to the lower angular extent 21b of the lever 21, thereby to swing in generally parallel relation to the swing of the lever, but independently thereof.

A tension spring 57 having opposite ends respectively attached to the lever and wall 23 yieldably urges the carrier and cutter away from the tape, i.e., counterclockwise in FIG. 7, in the above described first and intermediate positions of the lever; however, in the second (FIG. 7) position of the lever, the upward swing of the lever extent 21b brings the carrier upper surface 540 into engagement with means such as a stationary roller or abutment 58 for camming the carrier downwardly against yieldable resistance of spring 57. Such downward movement of the carrier 54 brings the edge 55a of the knife 55 into severing engagement with the tape, beneath roller 41 as shown. FIG. 10 shows the provision of an adjustment screw 66 releasably retaining the cutter in selected position against face 67 of the carrier.

Note also the provision of a housing bottom plate 60 containing aperture 61 to pass the rollers 41 and 42 and knife 55, and aperture 62 to pass the follower roller 46, whereby loose wrappings on the work roll are prevented from engaging the mechanism in the interior of the housing.

A handle integral with the lever 21 projects laterally in FIG. 8 through an opening 81 in wall 23, to facilitate alternate manual swinging of the lever as may be desired.

In considering the operation of the apparatus assume first the parts to be as in FIG. 3 wherein the upper lever extent 21a appears in its neutral position with roller 41 elevated to permit initial threading of the tap about idler 42 as shown. Upon powered actuation of the upper lever extent 21a into engagement with stop 38 the lower angular extent 21b of the lever is swung down to the FIG. 4 position in which roller 41 is pressed against the tap to be followed by the application of pressure to the applied tap by follower roller 46. When the desired length of tap is wound about the roll 10 lever 21 is actuated to its second extreme position of engagement against stop 39 to swing the lower extent 21b upwardly and in so doing to bring the top surface of carrier 54 into engagement with cam 58 causing the carrier to be forced down against the resistance of spring 57 to bring knife 55 into cutting engagement with the tape.

I claim:

1. Apparatus operable to apply tape to the surface of a rotating roll, comprising a lever pivotally mounted for powered oscillation above the roll between first and second extreme positions past an intermediate position, tape feed means including a pressure roller carried by the lever for elevation above the roll surface at said intermediate position and for lowering to press the tape against the rotating roll surface by movement of the lever to said first of its extreme positions, and means including a knife and carrier connected to the lever and operable in response to its movement to said second position to sever the tape, said knife carrier being pivotally connected to said lower angular extent of the lever and is spring-biased away from the tape in said first and intermediate positions of the lever.

2. Apparatus according to claim 15 including means engageable by said carrier and operable by upward swing of the attached lever extent to the second extreme lever position to swing the carrier into severing contact with the tape.

3. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said means is a stationarily mounted roller operating to cam the carrier downward against the resistance of its spring bias upon upward swing of the lever.

4. Apparatus according to claim 17 including also a spring-urged follower roller arm mounted to swing parallel with the swing of said angular extent of the lever and acting to press its roller against the applied tape.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 1 3 901 757 DATED August 26 1975 |NVENTOR( I ROBERT BRUCE EGLINTON It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

SUMMARY PAGE CORRECTION: Line [731"Assignee: Chromalloy American Corporation. Gardena, Calif." should read Assignee:

Chromalloy American Corporation, New York, New York Column 4, line 46; "Apparatus according to claim 15" should read -Apparatus according to claim 1 Column 4, line 51; "Apparatus according to claim 16" should read Apparatus according to claim 2 Column 4, line 55; "Apparatus according to claim 17" should read Apparatus according to claim 3 Signcd and Scalcd this sixteenth Day of December 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ummissr'mrcr of Parenrs and Trademarks 

1. APPARATUS OPERABLE TO APPLY TAPE TO THE SURFACE OF A ROTATING ROLL, COMPRISING A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR POWERED OSCILLATION ABOVE THE ROLL BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND EXTREME POSITIONS PAST AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, TAPE FEED MEANS INCLUDING A PRESSURE ROLLER CARRIED BY THE LEAVER FOR ELEVATION ABOVE THE ROLL SURFACE AT SAID INTERMEDIATE POSITION AND FOR LOWERING TO PRESS THE TAPE AGAINST THE ROTATING ROLL SURFACE BY MOVEMENT OF THE LEVER TO SAID FIRST OF ITS EXTREME POSITIONS, AND MEANS INCLUDING A KNIFE AND CARRIER CONNECTED TO THE LEVER AND OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO ITS MOVEMENT TO SAID SECOND POSITION TO SEVER THE TAPE, SAID KNIFE CARRIER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LOWER ANGULAR EXTENT OF THE LEVER AND IS SPRING-BIASED AWAY FROM THE TAPE IN SAID FIRST AND INTERMEDIATE POSITIONS OF THE LEVER.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 15 including means engageable by said carrier and operable by upward swing of the attached lever extent to the second extreme lever position to swing the carrier into severing contact with the tape.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said means is a stationarily mounted roller operating to cam the carrier downward against the resistance of its spring bias upon upward swing of the lever.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 17 including also a spring-urged follower roller arm mounted to swing parallel with the swing of said angular extent of the lever and acting to press its roller against the applied tape. 